Accidental intrathecal insertion of an extradural catheter during combined spinal-extradural anaesthesia for caesarean section.

The combined spinal-extradural technique is used to provide analgesia and anaesthesia in obstetric anaesthetic practice. The accidental insertion of an extradural catheter into the dural opening made previously by the spinal needle is thought to be a theoretical risk. We report a case during combined spinal-extradural anaesthesia for Caesarean section in which this complication occurred.